I THREW MYSELF AT HIM the way I had when I’d first seen him in the lobby, the way I’d been doing in my heart since the moment I met him.

But this time, I was holding on.

To communicate this fact, I actually leapt up on his body, sort of body slammed into him, so he grunted as I hooked my knees around his hips. His hands went to my bottom, holding me up, and I cupped his scruffed jaw and kissed him.

He kissed me back, then murmured against my mouth, “Do you care that people are watching?”

“I don’t care about anything but you,” I whispered back.

From somewhere behind us, someone started clapping. Others followed. A few hoots and catcalls broke out.

Okay, maybe I cared a little.

I let my knees unhook and slide back to the floor. My face was hot from my eyebrows to my chin, but Trey didn’t even seem to notice the clapping, beyond taking my hand and tugging me away from the crowd, back to the wall.

Peacock followed at our feet, somber for a puppy. He squatted on his haunches and peered up at us, looking between our faces as we talked.

“Ben was right to warn you, babe,” he said quietly. “You need to know that. I’m in a bad place.”

“He didn’t say bad. He said broken.”

“Okay, fine. He’s right about that too.”

“Trey, maybe you don’t know me, but I’d like to introduce myself. Cassidy James, father left when she was four, mother in and out of rehab. Skirted Child Protective Services until Ben was old enough to get us away. I’m not scared of broken.”

“My broken’s a little different.”

“Okay, fine,” I said, settling into negotiation mode. “Do I have to pass a test? ‘Outline the ways in which Trey Dante is fucked up: he rarely uses complete sentences; he calls people ‘sheep’; he has a dirty mind and mouth and isn’t afraid to use them.’ Like that?”

He smiled faintly. “No test. But you need to know what you’re getting into.”

“I’m getting into you.” I cupped his face and stared into his eyes. “Trey, I’ve been loving you since the day you walked into our lives. So I guess the question is, do you want what you’re getting with me? Because…here I am, all ready.”

He wrapped a hand around the nape of my neck. “I’m ready, babe. I’m broken, but it’s better when I’m with you.”

“I’m good for broken,” I said and went up on my toes to kiss him.

“My own personal tape,” Trey murmured against my lips.

At our feet, Peacock’s tail started wagging.

“And you’re good for alone,” I told him. “This isn’t all one way. We’re good for each other. I’ve been alone my whole life, waiting for you.”

He cupped my face. “It’s a fucking reunion.”

“Well…damn,” said a voice behind us.

I looked over my shoulder at Ben.

“He’s mine,” I said, throwing myself against Trey again. “I don’t care what you say.”

Ben drew his hand through his hair, then down the side of his face, pulling it as he went, then flung it up in the air.

“Well hell, I sure don’t want him.”

I looked into Trey’s eyes. They weren’t tortured or dark or unreadable right now. They were clear and intent, and he was smiling. I gave him one more swift kiss then stepped back. He reached for my hand.

Hard, calm, dangerous, sweet, dirty Trey, taking my hand. Holding on.

“Let’s hang out for a little,” I whispered. “It’ll be okay.” I took a small step toward the table, pulling him with me.

“Yeah, I know,” he said, coming with me. “It’ll be okay now.”

Now.

Now meant me. Now meant us.

Now meant forever.

BEN SAT ME BETWEEN HIM AND CASS at the front table, like he was protecting me. Or keeping me close enough to kick my ass.

“Mr. Devoted, huh?” he muttered as waiters poured another round of champagne. He waved someone over and got me and Cass glasses.

I watched the bubbles sizzle up, then met his eye. “I hope this doesn’t ruin anything between us.”

He was grinning. “Dude, why do you think I asked you to keep an eye on her?”

“Seriously?”

“Serious. I mean, I didn’t think this was going to happen.” He waved at Cass. “But I’m glad it did.”

I sat back. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”

“What was I going to say? ‘Could you go fall in love with my sister?’”

I eyed him skeptically. “Cass said you warned her off.”

“I just warned her. I didn’t want her getting hurt.” He looked beyond me to Cass, sitting on my far side. “But getting hurt is better than being empty. And I think Cass was pretty empty before you. After you.” He looked at me. “It was always you.”

I inhaled slowly. Always me.

Cass was holding my hand under the table, but had turned slightly away to talk to someone on her left. Some of her hair spilled forward over her shoulder, leaving the curve of her neck exposed, pale and slender.

“I’ll take care of her,” I vowed. “I swear it.”

“You better. Or I’ll come hunt you down.”

I looked over. “Dude, I have guns.”

“Dude, so do I.”

We grinned at each other.

So that was my vow, then. To keep her safe, make her happy. To give my life meaning, and give her everything she needed.

Yeah. That’s what I needed to do. That’s what I could do.

“I don’t think she’s going to be taking that job with your father-in-law,” I said quietly.

“Good,” Ben said, sitting back.

“That gonna cause any problems for you?”

Ben shook his head. “Nope. He’s met Cass at family events and he likes her. That’s why he offered the job when I told him about the coffee shop going under. He likes the way she thinks, how earnest she is. But he also knows what’s she’s made of.”

“What’s that mean?”

Ben was looking at Cass. “She’d die in my world. She needs yours. Or at least, you. She needs funky and off-beat.”

I don’t think anyone had called me ‘funky’ or ‘off-beat’ my entire life. Dangerous, scary, asshole: those were the words I’d heard. But I knew what he meant. I didn’t belong here, and neither did Cass. We’d make our own way.

Ben swept his champagne glass off the table and tapped it to mine. “Dude, I fucking love you. And if you make Cass happy, I’ll be in your debt the rest of my life.” He lifted the glass and drank.

Things had been dark for a long time, but right now, I felt as bright as the sunlight pouring into the room. I lifted my glass and drank.

Peacock, who’d alternated between sitting on Cass’s lap, gnawing on my boot, and rummaging through my bag, somehow ended up on the far side of the room. A waiter stopped short and eyed him, then sent a warning glare at the high table.

“Is he someone’s?”

Cass and I both got to our feet. “He’s ours,” we said in unison, then turned and smiled at each other.

“Well, he doesn’t belong here,” the waiter muttered and moved off.

“No, he doesn’t,” Cass agreed, still looking at me. Still smiling. “You almost ready?”

I reached for her hand. “Hundred percent ready. I’m not waiting for anything anymore.”